Thomas Hughes, a prominent Mankato lawyer, published a history of Blue Earth County in 1909. Unlike most county histories at this time, which were arranged by topics, he chronicled events year-by-year, giving an appearance of lasting significance to election results, storms, fires and similar phenomena. He included little about court proceedings or members of the bar.

Excerpts from Hughes' History, arranged chronologically, that refer to lawyers, judges, crimes and related matters form this article.